Iowa Crop Report

July 24, 2013

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.

"The warm dry weather has allowed crops to continue to develop, but many areas of the state are now starting to need some rain," Northey said. "Some areas of the state did receive some precipitation yesterday and there are additional chances later this week. Hopefully crops will continue to receive timely rains throughout the growing season."

CROP REPORT

Article Photos

Bill NortheyIowa Secretary of Agriculture

Crops were beginning to need rain as dry weather continued the week ending July 21, 2013, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. It was the third week in a row with below average precipitation, which has caused soil moisture conditions to decline, and has led to crops needing additional moisture. Statewide there was an average of 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork.

Statewide, 43 percent of topsoil was in the adequate and surplus categories, a decline of 22 percentage points from the previous week. Topsoil moisture levels rated 14 percent very short, 43 percent short, 42 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. A total of 66 percent of subsoil was in the adequate and surplus categories, down 18 percentage points from last week. Subsoil moisture levels rated 4 percent very short, 30 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Thirty-five percent of the corn crop has tasseled, well behind last year's 95 percent and the five-year average of 70 percent. Eighteen percent of the corn crop was silking, lagging behind last year's 87 percent and the normal 54 percent. Overall, the corn development was about 10 days behind normal. Corn condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 43 percent good and 12 percent excellent. Thirty-six percent of the soybean crop was blooming, behind last year's 83 percent and the five-year average of 70 percent. Scattered reports of soybeans setting pods were received. Soybeans condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 43 percent good and 13 percent excellent. Seventy-six percent of the oat crop has turned color, trailing the five-year average of 90 percent. Twenty-one percent of the oat crop has been harvested, behind both last year's 88 percent and the normal 39 percent. Oat condition was rated 0 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 31 percent fair, 54 percent good and 10 percent excellent.